Historic Journey on Solingen's Bus
A Journey Through Time: The Historic O-Bus of Solingen
In the heart of Germany, the city of Solingen is home to a remarkable piece of history – the O-bus, a trolleybus that marked an important phase in the transition from tramways to trolleybus systems in the mid-20th century.
The O-bus, specifically car 59, was built in 1955 and was in service until 1974. On 6 August 1955, this historic vehicle embarked on its inaugural ride to Hasten, an event that drew great joy and attention from passengers and passers-by. The O-bus was decorated with flags and greeted with warm celebrations in Hasten.
The switch from trams to O-buses was a gradual process, with tram lines being discontinued and overhead lines being converted for O-buses. June 1955 saw the line to Höhscheid for O-buses go into operation. This transition represented technological advancement and changes in urban transport, as the O-bus was considered very efficient and fast.
Today, the O-bus is under the care of the tram museum and is still used on its line to Hasten, delighting passengers and onlookers who take photos of it. The departure for the special trip is from Graf-Wilhelm-Platz.
During the special trip organized by the tram museum, passengers enjoyed their time on the historic O-bus, reminiscing about the past and creating new memories. The stop during the special trip was used for taking photos, and the O-bus was fully booked.
Jürgen Lehmann from the board of the tram museum shared interesting facts about the switch from trams to O-buses during the special trip. He spoke about the efficiency and speed of the O-bus, which led to its adoption in Solingen.
The local history association Pfaffenberg-Hasten also organized a small celebration for the inaugural ride, which turned into a big folk festival.
In 2025, there are commemorative events and bus rides that recall this era and the historic O-bus in Solingen. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte (DGEG) scheduled a special historical O-bus trip in Solingen as part of their activities, highlighting the legacy of the 1955 transition period between trams and trolleybuses in Solingen.
For those interested in delving deeper into public transport history, later in the day, passengers could visit the tram museum to explore more about Solingen's transport heritage.
[1] DGEG (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte) website: www.dgeg.de [2] Tram Museum Solingen website: www.strassenbahnmuseum-solingen.de
- The historical transition from trams to O-buses in Solingen was significant not just for the industry and finance that underpinned the change, but also for the advancement and evolution of public-transit and transportation in the city.
- In recognition of the 1955 transition period between trams and trolleybuses, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte (DGEG) organizes special historical O-bus trips, showcasing the impact the O-bus had on Solingen's transportation systems and highlighting its legacy.
